Does China Own Apple? With Patrick McGee

In this episode, Steve Eisman delves into the intricate and often overlooked story of Apple’s manufacturing evolution over the past two decades, focusing on its deep entanglement with China. Steve interviews Patrick McGee, author of ‘Apple in China,’ unraveling how Apple moved its production almost entirely to China by the end of 2010. The discussion explores Apple’s transition from localized production to heavily outsourcing manufacturing, the role of suppliers in driving these changes, and the geopolitical ramifications of Apple’s deep ties with China. The conversation highlights Tim Cook’s key role in this shift, the innovative prowess of Chinese manufacturers, and the operational challenges Apple faces in diversifying production away from China. The episode underscores the complex relationship between Apple and China, shedding light on the broader implications for U.S.-China relations and how the company’s reliance on China poses significant risks.

00:00 Intro

02:25 Apple's Manufacturing Journey in the 90s

05:54 Tim Cook's Impact on Apple's Manufacturing

07:18 The Long March to China

09:05 The Role of Contract Manufacturers

14:30 China's Manufacturing Ecosystem

18:32 Apple's Influence on China's Manufacturing

25:29 The Apple Squeeze and Its Implications

26:56 Apple's Talent Migration to Competitors

27:24 Xi Jinping's Impact on Apple in China

27:44 Apple's Rapid Growth in China

28:51 Apple's Struggles with Chinese Regulations

30:00 Apple's Strategy to Win Over China

33:05 The Rise of Chinese Competitors

39:51 Challenges of Manufacturing Outside China

45:02 Apple's Political and Economic Bind

46:17 Concluding Thoughts on Apple's China Dilemma

You can find more about Patrick McGee's work here: https://patrick-mcgee.com/

"Apple CEO Tim Cook" by deerkoski is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

"Tim Cook with Chongqing Mayor Huang in Apple Jiefangbei" by Junyi Lou is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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